Outdrive protective apparatus

ABSTRACT

FIG-01 AN OUTDRIVE PROTECTIVE APPARATUS IS PROVIDED FOR EASY ATTACHMENT TO A BOAT TO PROTECT THE OUTDRIVE OF AN INBOARD-OUTBOARD MOTOR FROM MARINE GROWTH, AND THE LIKE, WHEN THE BOAT IS NOT IN USE. A BAG IS ADAPTED FRO PLACEMENT AROUND THE OUTDRIVE UNIT AND FOR EASY ATTACHMENT TO THE TRANSOM OF A BOAT IN A MANNER TO PROVIDE A WATERTIGHT SEAL BETWEEN THE BAG AND THE TRANSOM AND AROUND THE OUTDRIVE UNTIL WITH AN OPENING IN THE BACK MAINTAINED ABOVE THE WATER LEVEL.

United States Patent 72] Inventor James 1.. Pearce 1061 Bali Drive. Cocoa Beach. Fla. 32931 [21] A l. No. 826,864 [22) Filed May 22, 1969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [54] OUTDRIVE PROTECTIVE APPARATUS 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl l15/0.5, 150/52 [51] Int. Cl 1363b 17/00 [50] Field 01 Search 114/222, 0.5; 11510.5;61/1; 285/191; 150/52; 206/78 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,428,381 10/1947 Parry 285/191X 2,475,135 7/1949 Haven 150/52 2,971,576 2/1961 Anker 220/20X 3,202,123 8/1965 Goodfriend 115/05 3,205,851 9/1965 Wiswell 114/222 Primary Examiner- Andrew H. Farrell Atrarney- Duckworth and Hobby ABSTRACT: An outdrive protective apparatus is provided for easy attachment to a boat to protect the outdrive of an inboard-outboard motor from marine growth, and the like, when the boat is not in use. A bag is adapted for placement around the outdrive unit and for easy attachment to the transom of a boat in a manner to provide a watertight seal between the bag and the transom and around the outdrive unit with an opening in the back maintained above the water level.

PATENTED JUN28 19w SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR.

a m M L 8 E M M PM'E'NTEUJUN28 I9?! 3587.508

sum 2 or 2 JAMES L. PEARCE INVENTOR.

OUTDRIVE PROTECTIVE APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to protective covers for submerged bodies and more particularly to a protective device for the outdrive of an inboard-outboard motor boat. The present invention is directed towards overcoming the problem of marine growth on the outdrives of inboard-outboard motor boats while at the same time providing a convenient means for flushing the motor in the boat if so desired.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past there have been many suggested means for providing flexible waterproof covers for protecting the hull of a boat from marine growths, and the like, when the boat is moored in sea water. These prior art devices provide various means for placing a cover over the entire bottom of the boat and either floating the cover in the water around the boat, or connecting it by hooks, or the like, to the sides of the boat to maintain the edges of the cover above the water level. Once the cover is placed on the bottom of a boat, chemicals may be inserted to protect the boat from marine growth, and the like, or alternatively, the water inside the cover may be replaced with nonsalt water or removed in its entirety to protect the bottom of the boat while the boat is moored.

One such prior art device provides a waterproof flexible material with'seams packed with styrofoam or other buoyant material to float the edges of the plastic sheet around the boat. This prior art device also is provided at one end by a pair of metal legs hinged at one end so that when the waterproof cover is placed under the boat, the hinged legs may be pulled together at the other end and connected together to seal that end and to form a totally enclosed cover for the bottom of the boat. The hinged metal legs provide means to assist in installing and removing the cover from the boat. The prior art has been directed primarily towards hull protectors for the bottom of the boat and can be expected to be much larger and more expensive than the present outdrive protective device. These prior art devices also generally require a much larger storage area and additional time and effort in installing or removing the cover from the hull of the boat. Accordingly, an

object of the present invention is to provide an easily attachable outdrive protector which may be easily stored and then quickly and easily attached to the transom of a boat or removed therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an outdrive protective device which is also adapted for use in flushing motors in an inboard-outboard motor boat to protect against corrosion, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an outdrive protective device for an inboard-outboard motor boat and having an enclosure or bag. The bag is connected to a generally U-shaped frame,

which may be easily connected to the transom of a boat to form a watertight seal between the frame and the boat for that portion of the frame that would be under the water level when the frame is attached to the transom of the boat. The bag will also have either flotation material to hold the remaining edges of the opening in the bag above the water level or the remaining edges may be connected to a portion of the frame to hold the edges above the water level. Thus, the outdrive of the motor may be completely enclosed in a waterproof bag sealed to the transom of the boat, whereby chemicals may be added or the sea water displaced by fresh water for the protection of the outdrive unit. The bag unit may also be provided with a cord, or the like, connected from the opposite end from the opening in the bag and running to the handle of the framework so that removing the unit from the outdrive unit, the water in the bag may be easily removed by pulling the cord to lift the rear end of the bag out of the water as the frame and bag are pulled out. It is anticipated that the bag will be made of a waterproof material and will be flexible, even though it should be understood that the present invention is intended to cover an enclosure of nonflexible material. The frame will have handles at one end for the easy handling of the unit while attached to and removing from the transom of the boat and may be made of metal tubing, or the like, in which a resilient material such as rubber, or the like, may be placed around the tubing to form the watertight seal between the frame and the transom of the boat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a study of the written description and the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention, as connected to the transom of a boat;

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the framework of the embodiment as FIGS. 1 through 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, there can be seen an embodiment of the present invention 10, having a bag or enclosure means II which bag may be made of a waterproof materials such as polyvinyl chloride and may be flexible as desired, but may also be made of nonflexible materiaL'The bag 11 is connected to framework 12 at the lower portion of the framework which connection may be waterproof bonding or any other means that would prevent water escaping into the enclosure 11 either between the material in enclosure ill and framework 12 or between framework 12 and the transom of a boat 13. The bag 11 also has flotation member 14 for floating the remaining portion of the bag opening in the water surrounding the boat so that the water inside the enclosure 11 and outside of it are substantially separated. Floatation means 14 could be a material such as a closed cellular structure polyfoam placed in the hem of the opening in the bag, to provide a flotation ring or log around a portion of the opening in the bag. It should be clear at this point, however, that it is also anticipated that the flotation log I 5 could be replace with a stiff member fixedly connected to the frame 12 in a manner to hold the remaining portion of the bag 11 above the water level when the frame 12 is connected to the transom of the boat 13. The outdrive unit 15 being protected by the present device is illustrated connected to the transom 13 of the boat and is for illustrative purposes only. The framework 12 can be shown as having handles 16, a rigid tubing 17, and a flexible sealing material 18. The handle 16 could be made of plastic or any other desired material and is merely for convenience in handling the frame in installing and removing the present device from the transom on the boat, while the rigid portion of the frame 17 could be metal tubing such as steel or aluminum and the flexible sealing material 18 could be a flexible rubber hose adapted to provide a watertight seal below the water level and also to prevent scratching or other damage to the transom of the boat by the frame tubes 17. Frame 12 may be removably attached to the transom 13 by attaching member 20 which are attached to the transom I3, as will be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 4.

Enclosure 11 has a reinforced eyelet or brass grommet 21, connected at the lower end thereof for attachment of a cord 22 which may be nylon rope, or the like, which runs from eyelet 21 to the frame or handle of frame 12 so that during the removal of device 10, the cord 22 may be pulled on to raise the lower end of enclosure 11 to empty the major portion of the water from enclosure so that apparatus 10 may be easily lifted from the water without having to lift a bag filled with water.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, in which a cutaway view may be seen in which frame 12 rubber cushion and seal 18 forms a tight seal against the transom 13 of a boat. Bag 11 may be seen completely enclosing the outdrive unit of an inboard-outboard motor (not illustrated). Buoyant material or log 14 may be seen enclosed in the hem 23 around the opening of bag 11 and the reinforced eyelet 21 may be seen having rope 22 connected thereto and running toward the upper portion of the frame 12. A portion of the transom fitting may also be seen in this view.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a view is show along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and more clearly illustrating the sealing portion of frame 12 in which the resilient tubular seal 18 covers the below water level portion of the frame 12, rigid portion 17 when the frame 12 is connected to the transom fitting 20. The tubular seal 18 also extends above the water level to prevent the boat being marred by the frame tubing 17 and also to allow pressure to be applied above and below the fittings 20 for a tighter fit. Transom fittings 20 are designed for easy connection by the bending of the U-shaped frame handles towards each other and snapping into the fittings 20 which then hold the frame tightly against the transom in a manner that rubber material 18 will provide a substantially watertight seal between the transom and the frame, and with the enclosure material 11 connected to that portion of the frame. As may be seen from this view, the present embodiment has the material of the enclosure 11 splits at 24 and bonded at 25 to frame seals '18. Splits 24 are provided for adapting the bag material for wrapping around the U-shaped frame 12 and wraps completely around sealed material 18 and over onto itself again to form a complete waterproof bond with seal portion 18 of the frame 12.

FIG. 4 more clearly illustrates the transom fittings 20 as taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and illustrates how fitting 20 is shaped similar to a half chock and adapted for metal tubing 17 to fit in place while the resilient covering material 18 is illustrated having a tight fit against the transom l3. Fittings 20 are attached to the transom of the boat by screws 26, or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a view of the frame of the present embodiment showing a generally U-shaped frame 12 having rigid metal tubing 17, flexible cover for the seal 18 along with the handle 16. Also illustrated in this view is a frame member 27 which may be adapted to replace flotation 14 of the previous embodiments and for use in maintaining the opening in the bag or enclosure 11 above the water level. Member 27 provides additional rigidness to the frame but still allows frame member 17 to slip into the transom fittings 20.

As'can be seen, an outdrive protective device has been provided for protecting the outdrive unit of an inboard-outboard motorboat and which may be easily connected when the boat is not in use, and disconnected before using the boat. It should be realized that the present invention may be utilized and adapted for the protection of anything else placed on the side or transom of a boat to prevent corrosion and aquatic growth without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

This invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed herein, since these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

lclaim:

1. An outdrive protective apparatus for a boat comprising in combination:

a. frame means;

b. flexible bag means having an opening therein and being connected to said frame means;

c. attachment means for removably attaching said frame means to said boat to form a substantially watertight seal between a portion of said bag means and said boat; and

d. means attached to said flexible bag means for maintaining a portion of said bag means surrounding a portion of said opening in said bag means above the water level when said frame means is attached to said boat whereby the outdrive of said boat may be substantially isolated inside said bag means from the surrounding water.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, but including means to remove water from said bag means when said protec-' tive apparatus is being removed from said boat.

3. e apparatus in accordance with claim 2, m which said frame means is partially covered with a resilient material adapted to provide said watertight seal between said portion of said frame and the boat.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said means to remove water from said bag means includes a cord means connected between said bag means and said frame means whereby said cord is adapted for raising said bag means for removing water from said bag means.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said frame means is substantially U-shaped.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which said bag means is made of polyvinyl chloride.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which said attachment means includes a pair of frame means engaging members connected to the transom of said boat and being adapted for engaging said U-shaped frame means by flexing said frame means to engage said attachment means.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which the means attached to said bag means for maintaining a portion of said bag means above the water level is a buoyant material placed in the hem of a portion of the opening in said bag means.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which the means attached to said bag means for maintaining a portion of said bag means surrounding a portion of the opening in said bag means above water level is a rigid member fixedly connected to both sides of said frame means and to a portion of the opening in said bag means to hold said bag means above water level. 

